You READ – but do you leave REVIEWS?

Posted on by Chris The Story Reading Ape

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If not, why not?

I don’t have time

The author probably spent a heck of a lot more time writing the story than you took to read it, no matter how slow you think you are, so why not take a few minutes to record your feelings about it.

I can’t write long fancy reviews like those I see on book review blogs

You don’t have to, Amazon, for example, only ask you to use a minimum of 25 non repeating words.

I can’t express myself very well

No-one is asking you to produce a literary masterpiece, start off with things you liked, didn’t like or a mix of both about the book, e.g.,

I liked this book because –

it reminded me of –

it made me think about –

it made me so scared I couldn’t sleep for –

it made me feel homesick for –

it made me more aware about –

etc.

and just express your feelings about it

take a look at MY reviews – no lengthy literalistic tomes, no divulging the story endings or highlights (these are called spoilers), you’ll get to them by clicking on the Amazon sites mentioned at the top of the Find Me At list to the right of this article, or even my Goodreads page further down the same list (when at Goodreads, check under my Chris’s Bookshelves and select Books Reviewed).

But all the other reviews are great long one’s. Everybody will laugh at mine

Let them laugh, you won’t be there to see them. Anyway, if they laugh AT you instead of WITH you, it demonstrates what kind of people THEY are.

In any case, an author will not laugh AT you I can assure you. They can see the difference between an honest comment and one that is professionally presented.

Honest reviews tell them an awful lot more and they pay more attention to them.

But what if I really, REALLY HATED the story.

As long as it was the story and not the author, then instead of posting a review comment, you can contact the author directly by email (usually found on their websites) and tell them why you really, REALLY hated the story.

If it was the AUTHOR you didn’t like, my advice is to keep it to yourself and avoid their books in future. Both of you will lead happier lives for it.

I can’t write to an author, they’re all too big and far above my status

You’d be surprised, authors come in all shapes, sizes and stations in life. The only difference between them and you is that they wrote a story and actually published it.

Why do authors need reviews anyway? They can write whatever they want and besides, they all make a lot of money so they don’t need ME doing reviews.

Only partly true.

Authors write whatever story is inside them that they feel needs to be told

However, not all authors are rolling in money, if it were that easy YOU’d be an author yourself wouldn’t you?

Authors are storytellers

Storytellers NEED an audience

YOU are part of that audience

They cannot SEE how you react to the story

They cannot see your tears, hear your laughter or feel your emotions in response to the story they are telling – it is not like they are on a stage in a live show.

THAT is why they need your review comments, they need you to tell them about your reactions, so they can work on improving the existing and future stories they are writing, thereby improving your enjoyment of them.

So, if I leave review comments about a story I’ve read, I’ll be helping them get better at telling them?

Yes!

MMMM but I don’t have time –

Please refer to the top of the page and read it as many times as necessary until the message finally gets through – thank you!

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224 thoughts on “You READ – but do you leave REVIEWS?”

  1. Chris, can you tell me where it says that Amazon will not allow a review of a book purchased elsewhere? I’m looking at their guidelines and under Who can create customer reviews? it says, “Anyone who has purchased items from Amazon.com.” In other words, you have to be signed up on the Amazon site and have bought something from them. It doesn’t say it has to be that particular book. Earlier in that section it says “Your review will be marked as an Amazon Verified Purchase” but it doesn’t say it has to be that.

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    • I have not, to date, had any problem leaving reviews on any Amazon site about any book Lorinda, whether I bought it from them or elsewhere.
      I DO know however, that Smashwords (always) and Barnes & Noble (sometimes) need you to have bought the book from them before allowing you to leave reviews 😀

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      • I had in mind Jenny Orelle’s comment near the top of this list. I’ve also never had any problems with reviewing on Amazon re source of purchase, but I thought I’d check out the source for the facts. I know about Smashwords – that’s why an author gets fewer reviews on Smashwords.

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          • As an editor of fiction, I always write a review and post it in several venues. I only read Indy fiction and I feel that I have an obligation to write a review for the author, hoping to help him or her with increased sales as a result of same.

            However, I take it a step further, as an editor I feel obligated to help writers as much as possible. With that in mind, I attempt to contact the writer about my review. I also take notes as I read, paying close attention to any extreme errors I find and recording them as well. Then I contact the author again to talk about the book. No strings attached, just my way of giving back.

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  3. I must admit that all your posted reasons have crossed my mind at one time or the other. I never wrote reviews until past month after reading My Wings and Dragan Duma both by Patty van Delft (http://petitemagique.wordpress.com) (My Wings is a poetry book in English with the first half Dark poetry and the second half Light poetry and Dragan Duma is a fantasy novel in Dutch) and I did that because the books where great AND she is a personal friend of me.

    It made me realize how reviews can have an impact or can be a catalyst for others to buy a book. Personally I never read a review, I don’t even read the back flap synopsis, I go in blank. Since I entered the blogging world I think I might write a review more often and not only for the authors I know personally. Yes they might be short, the might be crappy written but they will be honest and I guess that is the most important part of a review.

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  4. Reblogged this on chrismcmullen and commented:
    Read any great books lately? What a wonderful way to convey to those authors your wish for them to write more, and to tell them what great things they should keep doing right. 🙂

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  5. Reblogged this on jemsbooks and commented:
    Thank you to Chris The Story Reading Ape for all his support of indie authors. He is an indie author’s best friend! We appreciate your support!!

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  6. You are the best, Chris! You are the best friend an indie author could have! Thank you for all that you do to support us! I will reblog this gem! Xo

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  8. In the past I thought (as a writer) it wasn’t my place to judge/critique the hard work of other writers (I don’t like the ‘star system’). But I’m slowly getting into it now. Having worked in comms and editing for years I found it difficult to get out of the ‘find mistakes’ mindset and into the ‘sit back and enjoy the story’ mindset. It’s a good learning experience 😀

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